Field pea disease warning
Field pea growers are being urged to take action to avoid blackspot infection this season with the risk of the disease expected to be high.
The Blackspot Manager Model is predicting a high risk of ascochyta blight in field peas heading into the growing season due to the lack of summer rainfall.
This means a high number of blackspot spores waiting to be released when rainfall does eventuate in late autumn and winter.
Soybean plantings
Soybean plantings in Brazil are set to increase to record levels for the ninth consecutive year.
According to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report there will be 35.8 million hectares of soybeans planted in Brazil this year, a 2 per cent increase, attributed to stronger demand, both domestically and from China.
Should yields remain in line with current estimates there will be a crop of 115m tonnes, which would be the second biggest on record.
Award for Preston
RENOWNED weed management expert Chris Preston has been awarded the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Southern Region 2018 Recognising and Rewarding Excellence Award.
The award, voted upon by the GRDC Southern Regional Panel, recognises Dr Preston’s input and commitment to the Australian grains industry.
In presenting the award, GRDC Southern Regional Panel member John Bennett said Dr Preston, Associate Professor of weed management at the University of Adelaide’s Waite Campus, was one of the grains research, development and extension sector’s most valued assets.
“Chris works in an area of research that is constantly evolving and enormously complex,” Mr Bennett said.